Conversion Course for Hill trained pilots

Number of days:

• May vary between our different training locations
• Please check our schedule for more detail

Prerequisites

• CPC rating with 10 hours airtime

What you need to bring with you

• Shoes for running with ankle support
• Knee protection, Trousers or Jeans
• Water to drink, food to eat, for each day of your course.
• Log book, if you have one.
• Association membership if you have it
• Additionally, if you are flying with us outside the UK, Passport, Driving Licence, Accident insurance, including repatriation, along with your duly completed form E111 available from your post office.

What you will learn

• The theory of towing
• The importance of maintaining the correct glider attitude (angle of attack) during the various stages of the tow
• Understand the dangers of flying with inadequate airspeed
• Emergency procedures, covering line breaks and release failures
• Flying circuits, approach planning, spot landing
• Understand the need of good teamwork for successful towing operations
• How to fit and operate tow bridles and what to do in event of their failure
• Understand the correct use of weak links and guillotines
• Lock Out during the tow, what it is, how to avoid it, what to do if it occurs

The tasks you will need to complete

• Demonstrate the correct fitting and use of tow bridles.
• Demonstrate your ability to fly at the correct speed on the tow.
• Demonstrate correct use of recognised signals for communication between winch operator, launch marshall and pilot.
• Use of emergency signals to abort a tow.
• Carry out a minimum of 6 tow launches, circuits and successful landings withing a designated area.
• Pass a final assessment.

Priviledges you will enjoy on obtaining this certificate/rating

• You will be able to join in winch towing activities with other tow groups operating under BHPA guidelines

Course Timetable

• The course time-table always varies due to weather conditions and location.
  Morning and evening air is generally better for training as the air is calmer, therefore, it is necessary to discuss with your instructor his plan for the start time of your course.

The next step

• Try some thermalling practice after releasing from the tow. If you have a Pilot rating try going XC.
• Progress towards gaining an aerotow rating to enhance your XC potential.